28 de May de 2020
The National Rural Network is closely observing, and also very actively participating, in the paradigm shift in urban-rural relations that is taking place as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The adaptation to remote work seems to have opened a door through which to unite the rural and urban worlds. Hence, we found it interesting to report on four rural areas that offer affordable housing for repopulation.
- The National Rural Network locates several towns offering housing to attract new residents.
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However, this is not a trivial matter. There is a tendency to idealize rural areas , but they are still very fragile in terms of guaranteed coverage of certain basic resources such as healthcare, education, and broadband internet for a significant portion of the population. Access to housing is also limited. And, of course, it entails a change in mentality that goes beyond a shift in working and living habits.
Even so, there are towns in rural Spain that—by offering a housing offering commensurate with their own capabilities—are willing to facilitate access to housing, contributing to the repopulation of their rural areas.
Towns with real estate offerings
The National Rural Network has identified active housing offers in some towns that are facilitating access to housing for new residents interested in moving to these areas. It also identified towns whose housing offers have been closed due to the current demand:
► Ocero (León): The town of Sancedo in León offers a fully equipped home to a family willing to move in for 40 euros per month. To qualify for this rental, the family must have school-age children under 18. Contact must be made through the Sancedo Town Hall, phone : 987.56.53.23.
► La Serrada (Ávila) : This town is also looking for families with school-age children who want to move there to avoid the closure of its only school, Colegio Rural Valle Amblés. In exchange for enrolling their children in the town, the family will receive free books and school supplies, as well as other types of assistance. More information is available through the local town hall. The town hall's website provides both a telephone number and an email address where you can contact them: 920.35.16.50 / serrada@diputacionavila.es
► Noguera de Albarracín (Teruel) : The Teruel town of Noguera de Albarracín published an offer for families with school-age children to move to this town. The town council offered two semi-furnished apartments with a kitchen, dining room, three bedrooms, and a bathroom for a monthly price of 150 euros. They are currently waiting for the COVID-19 crisis to pass to move into one of the apartments they are renovating and already have a lease on.
► Tremor de Arriba (León) : The Igüeña Town Council put several homes up for sale in Tremor de Arriba, priced between €3,500 and €3,800, depending on the apartment's features. These were uninhabited apartment blocks built for miners in the 1960s. The apartments have now all been sold.